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Scene
1
Claudius and Gertrude discuss Hamlet's madness and how he killed Polonius
in Gertrude's room. They tell Hamlet's childhood friends, Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern, to go and talk to Hamlet and recover the body of Polonius.
Claudius also mentions the idea of shipping Hamlet off to England.
Scene
2
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to interrogate as to the whereabouts
of Polonius's body. Hamlet just confuses the men by dodging their questions
with odd responses. Hamlet then goes to see the King.
Scene
3
Claudius tries to get Hamlet to tell him where he hid Polonius's body,
but Hamlet replies with very strange and vague answers. Claudius informs
Hamlet that he is sending Hamlet on a trip to England to try and clear
his mind and cure his madness. We learn that Claudius's true motive
for sending Hamlet to England is to have him executed.
Scene
4
Hamlet talks with the captain of the boat going to England and learns
that Norwegian troops are passing through Denmark on their way to Poland.
Hamlet reminds himself that he needs to hurry up with his revenge.
Scene
5
Gertrude talks to Ophelia and learns she has gone mad much like Hamlet
has. Ophelia talks with the King and Queen a bit and then leaves. Laertes
(Ophelia's brother) then enters outraged believing that Claudius has
killed his father Polonius. Claudius tries to explain to Laertes that
he did not kill Polonius. Ophelia enters and Laertes tries to talk to
her, but is shocked to find that she has become insane. Claudius again
tells Laertes that he did not kill Polonius and that the guilty party
will be put to death.
Scene
6
Horatio is told to deliver letters to the King and to fallow some sailors
to see Hamlet.
Scene
7
Claudius
finally gets Laertes to understand that he did not kill Polonius. The
King then receives a letter from Hamlet explaining that he is returning
to Denmark. Claudius and Laertes then conceive a plan to kill Hamlet.
Gertrude enters and informs Claudius and Laertes that Ophelia has drowned.
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